TRANSFER BATTLES: Suarez, Lewandowski, Fabregas, Cavani, Sneijder, Alcantarra, Nani, Powell, Skrtel, Zidane

Luis Suarez has stoked up talk of a move to Real Madrid after admitting that he wants to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. The controversial striker rocked Anfield last month after revealing he wants to leave Liverpool, citing what he feels as unfair treatment from the media as a key reason behind his decision.

Real Madrid are known to be among Suarez's suitors with the La Liga giants also considering a blockbuster move for Tottenham's Gareth Bale this summer.



And the Uruguay international, who scored the winner in his country's 1-0 win over France last week, has spoken of his desire to link up with the club's star man Ronaldo.

'Of course I would like to play with Ronaldo, he is a great player,' said Suarez ahead of Uruguay's World Cup qualifier against Venezuela on Tuesday.

'You never know, but it is complicated. 'At the moment he is in Madrid and I am in Liverpool and I do not know what is going to happen.'



Manchester United are increasingly confident they can bring Cesc Fabregas and Robert Lewandowski to Old Trafford this summer after being given private encouragement from both players.

New United manager David Moyes would ideally like to bring both the Barcelona midfielder and Borussia Dortmund’s Poland striker to the club before his squad departs on a tour of Asia and Australia in the middle of next month.

It is understood both players have expressed an interest in joining the Barclays Premier League champions and United feel they can do the deals.



Fabregas’s former club Arsenal have first refusal on the 26-year-old if he leaves the Nou Camp this summer but United are understandably confident that Old Trafford may prove more attractive to a player who spent eight years with the London club before moving back to Spain two summers ago.

Lewandowski is keen to move to England after his hopes of a switch to new European champions Bayern Munich were dashed this week.

United have been tracking the Polish star for months and believe he could provide genuine competition for Robin van Persie, who will be 30 shortly before the start of the club’s title defence begins in August.



Real Madrid are stepping up their interest in Chelsea target Edinson Cavani. The Spanish club held talks on Monday with the Napoli striker's representatives in Madrid and are known to be the player's preferred option if they can meet the £53million buy-out clause.

Chelsea have made two offers. The first was rejected and the latest is understood to be goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois plus £40m.



The Belgian is regarded as one of the best young keepers in the world and has already intimated a desire to spend another season loan at Atletico Madrid who are also keen to sign him permanently. 

Manchester City were also expected to bid for Cavani last night but Edin Dzeko may not now be part of that package.

Incoming coach Manuel Pellegrini is, however, still expected to beat Real Madrid to the signing of Malaga's Isco after Madrid last night signed Brazil midfielder Casemiro for £5.1m from Sao Paulo.



There is some cause for optimism, if the Daily Mirror is to be believed, as one of Jose Mourinho's first recruits could be Netherlands playmaker Wesley Sneijder, who helped Mourinho win the treble with Inter and is devoted to the Portuguese coach.

While he is currently contracted to Turkish club Galatasaray, Sneijder has been made available for just £12.75 million. After being linked with Manchester United for years, and Tottenham briefly, perhaps the former Ajax and Real Madrid star will finally be making a move to England.



As the Mirror reports: “Galatasaray president Unal Aysal has told the west Londoners that the 29-year-old can go if the price is right. He said: ‘I have been following the rumours about Sneijder, but we have not received an offer for him. If an offer in the region of 15m euros comes in, we might decide to sell him though.’”



With Spain impressing at the European Under-21 Championship it’s no surprise to see some of their players pop up in the gossip columns and on Tuesday captain Thiago Alcantara finds himself linked with Manchester United.

The prodigious playmaker is believed to be available at Barcelona due to his frustration at failing to secure regular first-team football in arguably the most talented midfield in world football.

Sir Alex Ferguson was notoriously reluctant to expand his retinue of midfielders but according to the Daily Mirror David Moyes has no such hesitation and has made an approach for a player he first identified during his time at Everton.

Manchester City are also interested in the 22-year-old but Moyes has set wheels in motion behind the scenes.



The paper reports: “Moyes has put chief scout Jim Lawlor on the case to set up a deal for Spain Under-21 skipper Alcantara, who is currently on duty at the age-group European Championship in Israel.

“Midfielder Alcantara is available as Barca are willing to cash in for big money, and he is growing fed up at a lack of regular game-time.

“The Mirror understands that Premier League champions United have made contact with the Alcantara camp, with his father - Brazil hero Mazinho - open to the transfer.

“United’s new manager has made progress behind the scenes and hopes to put an offer to both club and player shortly.”



Galatasaray have pulled out of the race for Manchester United winger Nani after having a £6.5million offer rejected.

Meanwhile, Doncaster are trying to persuade United into loaning them Nick Powell. Manager Paul Dickov wants Powell, 19, to lead the attack in next season's Championship.



Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel's future could be decided next week with his agent due to fly in for talks. Speculation about the Slovakia international has been widespread ever since he lost his first-team place to the now-retired Jamie Carragher in January.

He has recently been linked to a reunion with Rafael Benitez - the man who took him to Anfield - after the Spaniard was appointed Napoli coach.



'There has been no contact between the two clubs. Martin has a contract with Liverpool and it is important to honour that," he told Italian station Radio Crc.

'Obviously Napoli know Martin well, but there cannot be any contact between us and them if they do not first reach an agreement with Liverpool.

'Between Martin Skrtel and Rafa Benitez is a professional relationship that has gone on from the years they spent together at Liverpool.

'[Napoli midfielder] Marek Hamsik and Skrtel are very good friends and they met last week.

'The midfielder requested information from Martin about Benitez, while Skrtel has asked questions about Napoli.

'But I think that if Napoli want to take Skrtel, they should first talk to Liverpool.

'I will be in England next week to talk with Liverpool and define Martin's future.'



Zinedine Zidane is ready to reject the sporting director's post at Real Madrid to become an assistant coach.



Cadena Ser says PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti has held talks with Zidane and offered him the No2 role at Real - which the Frenchman happily accepted.

Ancelotti hopes to gain a release from PSG this week and move to Madrid.

Zidane relayed his conversation with Ancelotti to his teammates on the weekend during Real's veterans match against Juventus.



But Ex team mate Roberto Carlos has thrown his support behind Zizou to become the next Real Madrid coach, saying the Frenchman is "ready" to take over the reins at the club.

“Zidane is ready for any post within Real Madrid. With his record, his calmness and his intelligence, he could do anything he wanted: coach, assistant, director," he said after Sunday’s 'Corazon Classic' between veterans of the capital club and Juventus.

"He would do everything with a great deal of calm, he’s a fantastic person for Real Madrid and he would be an ideal coach.